Andrew j



A. J. CURTIS, Meat Chopper.

Patented Aug. H, 1868.

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Letters Patent No. 80,811, dated August 11, 1868.

IMPROVED MEAT-CHOPPER.

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TO ALL PERSONS TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS .MAY COME:

- Be itknown that I, ANDREW J. CURTIS, of Monroe, in the county of Waldo, and State of Maine, have invented a new and useful Machine for Ohopping Meat or other matters; and do hereby declare the same to be fully described in the following specification, and represented in the accompanying drawings, of which- Figure 1 is a top view,

Figure 2 a vertical and longitudinal section, and

Figure 3 a side elevation of the said meat-chopping machine.

Insuch drawings, A denotes the frame, and B the rotary tub of the-machine.

G is the main chopping-knife, which is attached to and projected from a lever, D, arranged with respect to the tub, and supported at its rear end on a fulcrum, a, in manneras represented.

Besides the said knife C, which is arranged diametrically of the tub, there is an auxiliary knife, E, which also extends from the lever D, and at the heel of the knife 0, and is arranged at an obtuse angle with sue knife 0, in manner as shown in figtl.

The main knife C is also curved horizontally at or near its toe or front end, in manner as represented ate, in order that it may gather and turn the meat received from the inner curved surface of the tub while such may be in revolution. v

. The auxiliary knife cuts outside of the main knife, and across its cuts as they are brought around, and thus materially aids in mincing the meat.

The knife-lever, is operated in one direction, or raised, by a series of cams or wipers, E E E E, fixed on a. driving-shaft, F, provided with a fly-whcel, G, from which a 'crank, I I, is extended.

These cams work against an arm or cam, cl, extended down from the lever D, and formed as shown in figs. 2 and 3. i

The-depression of the knife-lever is eifected by the action of a spring, I, arranged within'the'frame, and extending into a. notch, e, (in the lever,) in manner as represented in fig. 2. This spring bears against an abutment or stationary pin, K; and extends in opposite directions therefrom, and is forced up to such abutment by an adjusting-screw, Ii, whichis screwed through a cross-bar, M, the wholebeing arranged as represented.

By means of the screw and spring and abutment applied to the frame andlever, as set forth, the force of descent of the knife or knives may be increased or diminished at pleasure, or as. circumstances may require.

A pitman or impelling-pawl, N, jointed to an arm, 0, extended from the lever D, works a ratchet, P, which is supported by the frame A. The tub rests on this ratchet, and is-separate from it. A centring-stud, d, and two others, I; b, projecting up from the' ratchet P, enter corresponding holes,fg g, made in the bottom of the tub, so thatwhen the ratchet is revolved with an intermittent motion, similar movements will be imparted to the tub.

I make no claim to a rotary tub, and one or more knives arranged therein,ancl provided with mechanism for moving the same vertically; nor do I claim, in combination therewith, a mechanism for revolving the tub; nor do I claim the arrangement of one knife at right angles with or obliquely with respect to ano her knife; nor do I claim the employment of a plow in' the tub of a meat-chopping machine.

I claim as myinvention the following, viz: V

p I claim the arrangement of the impelling-pawl N, the arm 0, the ratchet P, the spring I, the knife-lever D, and the cams d E, as applied to the knife or knives, andithe tub, as set forth. 7

I-also claim the arrangement andcorhbination of the depressing-spring I, its abutment K, and adjusting screw L, with the knife-lever D, and the series of cams E, for operating it, as setforthi I also claim the arrangement of the studs cl 6 b and the holesfgg, with the tub B and the ratchet P, arranged therewith in manner, and so-as to be operated by an impelling-pawl driven by the knife-lever, as

tf h. ANDREW J. CURTIS.

Witnesses: I

Fnnn. L. PALMER, A; H. Marc. 

